Disease wipeout fishes in tank

**fishlearn** · 4th May 2015, 19:28

Hi,

I suspect that there is a parasite or something, that wiped out most of my tetra and barb tank.
The remaining 2 fishes are constantly scratching against the walls of the tank.

It doesnt seem to affect the snails and shrimp though.

I am looking to restart the tank over again.
Do I need to throw away all the filter media and buy brand new ones?
Or can I re-use them, but just do a 100% water change and buy new fishes?

I am using hang on filter with some sponges and ceramic rings.

**Urban Aquaria** · 4th May 2015, 20:57

Fishes constantly scratching themselves against tank glass or objects is usually a sign of parasite infections... you have to check the other symptoms on the fishes to determine the cause and figure out how to treat the fishes and the tank.

Check this guide: http://www.tetra-fish.com/aquarium-i...spot-them.aspx

If the problem is too much to handle, then it'll be better to restart the tank, just to be safe. Discard the substrate, media and plants, wash the equipment and tank with bleach and let it dry fully, then start the tank again with all new items.

The next time you buy fishes, make sure to check them for any possible illness beforehand, and quarantine them separately in another tank for a while before adding them to the main tank.

**112508** · 4th May 2015, 21:25

Normally the condition in fish shops not optimum due to overstocking. Its also quite difficult to tell since certain illness have incubation periods.
Better to have a quarantine them for at least 2 weeks before introducing them to the main tank

**fishlearn** · 4th May 2015, 22:00

Thanks for the advices guys!

Actually, I dont really want to treat the remaining 2 barbs.
I actually decided to restart the whole tank.

Therefore, given that currently there appears to be a parasite in existing tank ... do I just do a 100% water change, throw away existing fishes, and everything will be ok?

Will buy a new packet of tetras from the fish shop after that

**inrewind** · 4th May 2015, 22:38

I like to know what you mean by 'throw away existing fishes'. I think as hobbyists, we are responsible for the fishes we buy. The best thing you can do is to sell/give away your fish at the marketplace (with clear explanation about their condition), and not to throw away your fish into the dustbin, toilet bowl or reservoir.

www.flickr.com/photos/in_rewind

**ahpui6** · 4th May 2015, 22:47

I would recommend para guard to treat your fishes. It is sad to throw away your fishes just because they are sick. There are a wide array of medication and I believe it is a much better solution than killing your fishes.

**Urban Aquaria** · 5th May 2015, 00:24

Originally Posted by fishlearn

Thanks for the advices guys!

Actually, I dont really want to treat the remaining 2 barbs.
I actually decided to restart the whole tank.

Therefore, given that currently there appears to be a parasite in existing tank ... do I just do a 100% water change, throw away existing fishes, and everything will be ok?

Will buy a new packet of tetras from the fish shop after that

Unless you can find out the actual illness or parasite that killed the fishes and have done all the necessary steps to eliminate the disease or parasites from the tank, just doing water change and removing the existing fishes is unlikely to help. The parasites and microbes could still be living in the rest of the tank equipment, substrate, plants and hardscape. So even if you buy new fishes, they may get the same infections too.

If you have no idea what cause the mass die-offs in the fishes, best to completely start a new tank, don't use back the same items that were in the tank.

**fireblade** · 5th May 2015, 09:17

if you want to use back your old items like soil wood or rocks, best is to soak in hot water... or use Potassium Permanganate (PP) bomb. if the amount is not alot, then maybe can throw away and buy new ones.
as for the fishes, if they are really in bad shape, just put them in the freezer before throwing them away else a concentrated salt bath and some medication might cure them(Since we don't know what disease is that, salt bath is the most basic way ).

**Goalkeeper** · 5th May 2015, 18:04

Can't agree more... Every fish represents a life....we should treat them humanly!

**fireblade** · 6th May 2015, 08:13

not to forget to steralise your filter and medias if you are going to reuse them,

**Ingen** · 8th May 2015, 11:42

Originally Posted by fireblade

or use Potassium Permanganate (PP) bomb.

Where to get Potassium Permanganate? Thinking of using it on all my driftwood and plants to reset the tank.

**fireblade** · 8th May 2015, 12:23

Guardian or NTUC Unity pharmacy should have. they come in liquid or crystal form.
For dirftwood I suggest you use hot water, plants might not do well in PP

**fishlearn** · 10th May 2015, 20:01

Hi All bros,

Thanks for the inputs and advises.
My apologies for being insensitive to the fishes.
Just got really sad with the wipeout and didnt know what to do about the sick fishes.

Anyway, the last 2 fishes died too.
Same problem. Kept scratching at the side of the tank.

Now I am left with snail. The shrimp died too.

Anyway, took the time to restart the tank.
Did a good scrub with melamine sponge.
Threw away all filter media in the hang-on filter.

Now, empty tank again. Waiting for nitrogen cycle to complete.

**aquaticstar** · 10th May 2015, 21:38

I think fishes catches dieases in fish tank got three basic reason. Firstlyl feeding too much foods. Secondly, Changing too much water. Thirdly, there are two many medicine/ solution or chemical added to the fish tank. Correct me if i am wrong. Help me think others reason that caused dieases.

Last time, one of my parrot fish caught Slimes. I didn't quarantine him. I treated him with Furan2 with two others parrot fishes. It recovered, but three become ill again as i didn't change the filter media. This is an expensive lesson as I caused the loss of the three life.